Fri Mar 01 2002 17:44:
Let me point once again to the
fabulous NYT article. The last part of the story is picked up and run away with by Ali Dean,
an Iranian-American satirist who may be the bravest comedian since Petronius.
It's hilarious. Read it--Sumana didn't and then she did and she told me
to link to the story again to get across the point that people really
should read it.

''You be a reporter from The New York Times,'' he says.

''But I am a reporter for The New York Times,'' I say.

''Even better!'' he says. ''The reporter from The New York
Times has come to interview Hajji about affairs in Iran. We do
it improv.''

''But . . . ,'' I say. I'm thinking: I have no talent for improv. I
have no taste for death threats.